LOOK: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray share post-race hug at Dover

After a battle to decide who would keep their championship hopes alive, Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the action off the track. The result wasn’t a shoving match or yelling at each other, but rather a hug between two of the most respected drivers in the sport.

Earnhardt’s late pass of McMurray put them in a virtual tie on the Chase Grid for the final spot in the Contender Round. After a third-place finish, Earnhardt claimed the best finish between the two, breaking the tie and moving on.

McMurray could have pushed the envelope with Junior, but the mutual respect was clear on the track. While he fell short of making the second round of the Chase for the first time in his career, the Chip-Ganassi Racing driver showed class after the race by embracing Earnhardt.

Jamie Mac won’t have a shot at winning a title for CGR, but this season was still a memorable one with his first Chase appearance. Both McMurray and Larson had solid finishes on Sunday, leaving the door wide open to build some confidence to work toward a strong 2016 season.

Jamie McMurray to team: “Nice work guys. Nothing to be ashamed of.” #nascar